Arkas Sailing Team claimed first place in ORC Overall, ORC Group 1 and IRC at Palermo-Montecarlo 2026, one of the Mediterranean’s most prestigious offshore races. Competing over the challenging approximately 500-nautical-mile course from Palermo to Monte Carlo, the Turkish team also finished third in Line Honours, achieving a historic result in one of the season’s most important offshore races.
Arkas Sailing Team secured first place in three categories at Palermo-Montecarlo 2026, one of the Mediterranean’s leading offshore sailing events. The team’s TP52-class yacht, Arkas Blue Moon, took the top spot in ORC Overall, ORC Group 1 and IRC, emerging as one of the standout teams of the event.
Held for the 21st time this year, the Palermo-Montecarlo race started from Palermo on 18 August. Following the mandatory passage at Porto Cervo, the race finished in Monaco after an approximately 500-nautical-mile (926-kilometre) course sailed non-stop, day and night. Held from 18 to 23 August, the event brought together 42 boats from six continents. The race, contested in the Maxi, Group 1, Group 2 and IRC classes, featured strong competitors including Black Jack 100, Marta 07, Fiamme Gialle Nice and Chocolate 3.
Changing Conditions Put Crews to the Test
In the opening section of the race, the fleet was met by westerly winds of 10–15 knots. Gusts occasionally reaching 20 knots and the changing weather conditions throughout the race brought the crews’ tactical performance to the fore.
Regarded as one of the Mediterranean’s leading offshore races, Palermo-Montecarlo is organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia in collaboration with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The race also serves as the final leg of both the Italian Offshore Championship and the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge.
One of the Season’s Major Victories
The TP52 Arkas Blue Moon, owned by team owner Bernard Arkas, raced under the leadership of skipper Serhat Altay. The 14-strong crew, made up entirely of Turkish sailors, competed against some of the Mediterranean’s leading offshore teams and claimed first place in ORC Overall, ORC Group 1 and IRC.
Arkas Blue Moon completed the course third on elapsed time, securing third place in Line Honours, while the corrected-time results placed the team at the top of the standings in ORC Overall, ORC Group 1 and IRC.
A Major Achievement for Turkish Sailing
The result at Palermo-Montecarlo added another significant international success to Arkas Sailing Team’s 2026 season. Coming immediately after its overall victory at Loro Piana Giraglia 2026, the result marked the team’s second major Mediterranean triumph of the season. By winning two prestigious Mediterranean offshore races in the same season, Arkas Sailing Team achieved a first in Turkish sailing history, while also delivering Türkiye’s most successful performance to date at Palermo-Montecarlo. With this result, the team once again took Turkish sailing to the top step of the podium on the international stage.
